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Key takeaways

• Antenatal care supports you and your baby throughout pregnancy.
• Midwives are your main contact for most pregnancies.
• Regular appointments monitor your health and your baby's growth.
• You will have routine checks and can ask any questions.

What is antenatal care?

Antenatal care is the healthcare and support you receive from your maternity team during pregnancy. It is also known as pregnancy care or maternity care. This care helps keep you and your baby well and prepares you for birth.

Your midwife will check your and your baby's health. They will look for any problems early so you can get support. They also offer support for your mental health.

Regular appointments are important to monitor your baby's growth. They also check how you are feeling and offer support. Routine checks can pick up conditions like a serious blood pressure condition (pre-eclampsia) and infections in your wee (urinary tract infections).

These visits are also a chance to ask questions or discuss worries.

Your antenatal care team

Your antenatal team includes many health professionals. These can include:

• Midwives
• Doctors who specialise in pregnancy and birth (obstetricians)
• Doctors who provide general healthcare (general practitioners, or GPs)
• Family nurses
• Doctors who give pain relief (anaesthetists)
• Doctors who care for babies and children (paediatricians) These professionals look after you during pregnancy.

Midwives

Midwives are health professionals who care for pregnant people and their babies. They provide care during pregnancy, labour, and after birth. Midwives are specialists in pregnancy, birth, and caring for you and your baby afterwards.

They are skilled at caring for you and identifying if you need care from other specialists. If you have a low-risk pregnancy, midwives will provide most of your antenatal care.

You may see your midwife at home, your GP surgery, or a health centre. You may also see them in hospital.

You will have a primary midwife who provides most of your care. This midwife is usually your first and main point of contact. They will care for you during pregnancy and for the first few days after birth.

If your midwife identifies any concerns, they can refer you to a specialist.

Independent midwives (IMs) work outside the NHS. They provide similar care but charge for their services.

Obstetricians

Obstetricians are hospital doctors who specialise in pregnancy and birth. They treat complications during pregnancy, labour, and after birth. Obstetricians work alongside midwives.

It is unlikely you will see an obstetrician if your pregnancy is uncomplicated. You may see one if you have health problems during pregnancy. They will plan your care with you and your midwife.

General practitioners (GPs)

Your doctor who provides general healthcare (your general practitioner, or GP) will continue to look after your general health during pregnancy. Your GP may also do some of your antenatal care.

They can treat minor illnesses like morning sickness or a bladder infection (cystitis). They also manage long-term conditions. Your GP will continue to care for you and your baby after birth.

Your schedule of appointments

You will have regular antenatal appointments with a midwife. These appointments help you and your baby stay well. If there are no problems, midwives will provide most of your care.

Your midwife may refer you to an obstetrician if you need extra care. This might happen if you are having more than one baby. You will usually have up to 10 antenatal appointments if this is your first baby.

If you have already had a healthy pregnancy and baby, you will have around 7 appointments. You may have more appointments if you have had previous complications or a medical condition.

Typical appointment schedule

A typical schedule for your first baby includes:

• A booking appointment – around 10 weeks.
• Appointments in your second trimester – at 14-16, 25, and 28 weeks.
• Appointments in your third trimester – at 31, 34, 36, 38, 40, and 41 weeks (if you have not already given birth).

If you have already had a baby, your schedule usually includes:

• A booking appointment.
• Appointments at 14-16, 28, 34, 36, 38, and 41 weeks.

Ultrasound scans

You will also be offered two ultrasound scans. These are usually at 11-14 weeks and 18-21 weeks. You can choose whether to have these scans.

If you cannot keep an appointment, let the clinic or midwife know to rearrange it.

What to expect at a typical check-up

Routine checks

At most appointments, your midwife or doctor will do routine checks. They will check your urine and blood pressure. They will also feel your tummy to check your baby's position.

Your blood pressure will be checked because high blood pressure can affect your baby's growth. It can also be a warning sign of a serious blood pressure condition (pre-eclampsia).

You will give a urine sample at each appointment. Among other things, this checks for protein, which can also be a sign of pre-eclampsia.

Measuring your bump

From 24 weeks of pregnancy, your midwife or doctor will check your baby's growth. They will measure your bump by checking the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your womb (uterus). This measurement is called your fundal height.

These measurements are recorded in your notes.

Your midwife or doctor can also listen to your baby's heartbeat if you wish. These check-ups are a good time to talk about how you feel. You can ask any questions you have about your pregnancy.